New Beginnings

The flowers have bloomed. The trees have sprouted new leaves. Birds chirp. Cafés bustle non-stop. Spring has arrived.

The regenerative miracle of Spring never ceases to astonish me. The short, cold days of winter give way to long, sun-filled days. Bare, gray trees cede to sprouting leaves and flourish. People shed their dark, heavy coverings to reveal light, colorful linens. What was once dormant awakes and lives without apology. It really is a site to behold.

This Spring is particularly astonishing for me because Winter seemed so long. So dark. So cold. These adjectives describe not only real, tangible phenomenon, but also a state of mind. Somehow I (someone who generally loves the Winter) was affected by a sort of seasonal slump, and it is truly amazing what some warm weather, sun, and renewed personal relationships can do to chase those blues away.

I've rediscovered old friends and what a pleasure it has been! Color is back in my life, flowers are blooming, and smiles abound. I hope your Spring is as full of life as mine!

Evolution

Life has a funny way of evolving without our consent. Little by little things change and then, one day, we realize just how much things have changed. I'm suddenly quite aware of this phenomenon in my life. And in general, evolution is treating me well.

Only a few years ago, I was toiling away on a Masters and then PhD in French at Ohio State with the goal of becoming a university French professor, and now I'm teaching English (loving it too!) in Rennes. With this change came a slow and steady evolution of professional and personal goals.

I've evolved physically too. Not surprisingly, I've lost more hair and have gained some more wrinkles. While not thrilled about the prospect of going bald and getting wrinkly, I've accepted that it's part of life, so no biggie, right? I weigh less than before, but still eat like 2 normal people. The effects of working out more or getting rid of bad, processed American food? Either way, being trim is always in style, right!?

Relationships are where slow yet steady evolution is most visible in my life. While I see my family much less due to distance, I feel even closer to them. I cherish the time I have with them even more now, and weekly phone conversations are so much more meaningful now than they were when I was calling from just a few miles away. Normal!

Circumstances and life have a funny way of separating the meaningful, long-lasting relationships from the ephemeral and short-lived friendships that dot all of our lives. Being away means not seeing friends, and so some of us have grown apart. This makes me sad, but at the same time it's a completely natural and normal part of life. We all have people that come in and out of our lives at different moments for different reasons: friends, colleagues, acquaintances based on what we're doing, where we live, etc. Just because we don't remain close forever doesn't mean that the relationships we've had with them were not meaningful or important to our own development. I think of close friends from high school, marching band, grad school. There are some who transcend places and periods of our lives, but those are few and so, even more cherished.

I don't know what my life has in store for, be it experiences, jobs, or relationships, but I've become more aware of how much each individual with whom I've crossed paths has affected and continues to impact me.

"Who can say if I've been changed for the better? I do believe I have been changed for the better. Because I knew you, I have been changed for good."